And good morning to you too, Cynthia. We have about 2 °F here with an expected high of 6 today, so it is definitely nippy out there. Can't start thinking of spring yet, it's too discouraging -- two more months of winter still to go.

I have no idea yet about hypocaust. The hypo part is clear enough, but the caust part is a big fat nothing for me. Maybe I should have taken Latin at some time in my life. Nah, who needs it? :-)

TM

Hmmmm, I'll be awaiting clues. So far not one flake of snow this winter, has been unusually mild for this time of year although we had a heavy frost yesterday morning. What we have had is a lot of is rain this winter, not saying snow might not be lurking right around the corner.
Although ratty looking a couple of the pulmonarias have a few flowers showing, snowdrops and hellebores are starting to bloom. The winter jasmine is just starting and the 'Daphne odora marginata' in the garden room is full of flower buds just waiting to burst open with their lovely fragrance. The garden itself is still a little to wet to do any digging so I'm spending time trying to tidy up the greenhouse a bit.

Annette

Being a chemistry geek, the word caustic should have popped into my head a lot faster than it did. Now that I have the hypo- and the -caust pretty well in hand, I'll just put them together and Presto! the answer will be obvious. Well ... nope, that doesn't seem to be working for me. Unless, I wonder if we're talking about a cosmetic procedure. Hmmmm. Maybe.

TM

Nope, not cosmetic, TM. Although I do think you will get it if you keep think along those lines.

Sorry it took me so long to get back. I had to get the chili going for tonight's game. Funny how this is such a big deal and usually ends up being a pretty one-sided game unlike the playoffs which often seem much more exciting. Sigh. The commercials are worth watching though. I have been purposely avoiding any pre-game teasers, so I can enjoy them. The Budweiser ones are always good!

Anyway, now that the chili is cooking, the kitchen cleaned up, and I am cleaned up, too, I will try to hit you with some clues. Oh, and I discovered that if I keep our basement bathroom door closed, I can actually feel the extra heat in my bathroom! I love that. Of course, Chuck keeps opening that door and closing the workroom door which I like open so the floor in one of the upstairs bedrooms is not so cold in the mornings. There is ductwork in the work room, but no heat comes out the vents, so it is usually cool in there. I think the previous owners must have blocked it off or something because the vent in the bedroom (same duct) works maybe too well and that room gets too hot when the doors are closed. Sigh. If I win the lottery, I will fix everything...or sell and move to France!

Cynthia, who is going to put on a heavy wool sweater

LOL, my mind works in funny ways, could it be the first HT.

Annette

Annette, I'm thinking about your HT and not getting anywhere with it, and suddenly I thought of RH, especially IFRH. Maybe that's it. It would fit.

TM

Not sure what HT is, Annette.

Today is one of those perfect days for a fire, but hate leaving the flue open overnight. We have a central chimney (is that what you call a chimney in the center of the house?) and I have been thinking about converting to gas for both fireplaces. It would be pretty easy, I think, since the furnace is also in the center of the basement and right next to the chimney. Have any of you ever converted a fireplace to gas? Seems like a terrific idea.

Off to make onion dip and also check the local weather. Hoping for snow, but last I heard it was supposed to switch to rain this evening as the temps warmed. Sigh. Totally hopeless. Shouldn't it get colder at night? I am beyond distressed at this situation.

Cynthia

hypocaustic - I should know this. hypo as opposed to hyper, caustic which is like a cleaner. My mind is mired, trying to fix cable boxes which people desperately want, so they can watch the game.

Nancy.

I'm seeing a theme from Cynthia's comments and have an idea for an answer.

Temps have dropped to low thirties but still warm enough to walk. Had to put up my hood to keep my ears warm and tuck my gloved little finger under DH's hand to warm it. Just enough time to take a warm bath before more family arrives for dinner.

I'm thinking along these lines: hypo- can mean under, beneath, less than, lower than, etc. and caustic refers to something that can burn. Strong acids or bases can be very caustic and, in a different way, so can a sharp wit.

So is there some kind of fire or heat that maybe comes from below? Did the Romans invent some kind of in-floor radiant heat, or maybe just some form of central heating?

TM

Oh no, Nancy. I bet they are less than patient. I am so sorry you are having to deal with that! At least you are warm and cozy at home. Something we take for granted, huh?

Cynthia

I'm thinking along the same lines as TM, the way they heated their hot tubs, I mean bath houses :).

Annette

You are warm, but not quite hot yet.

I cannot believe Seattle blew that last touchdown. So sad.

Cynthia

I think hypocaustic refers to the tunnel areas which heat traveled through to warm the floors including the bath houses. If that isn't correct it may refer to the furnace that produces the heat. Sort of a central forced air heating system.

And let's throw the chimney into the mix too. One of us must be pretty darn close by now.

TM

Okay, four stars for all of you who are inside enjoying the benefit of central heating. The Romans came up with the hypocaust which was a hollow space or series of channels (or tunnels as Bobbie said) which used air heated by furnaces under floors and behind walls to heat all the rooms of a house. Sort of like radiant heat as TM said.

Nice job everyone! Have a marvelous week. Stay warm and away from the northeast! Way too much snow, although I am a teensy bit jealous.

Cynthia, who wishes for ⛄️❄️, but is only getting ☁️��"️"️

Here is a link that might be useful: Hypocaust

Great trivia question, Cynthia. Thanks for once again making us think (ooh, the pain, the pain) and giving us our four star reward.

TM

These cool nights in Colorado I am thankful for central air. Thanks for the stars, Cynthia.

I wasn't even close!!

We have been -16c to -20c for a week - the snow did not even warm us up that much. We did dodge the big dump so far, thought.

Nancy.